The Economics of Star Trek and Scarce Scarcity

Generali

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-08-03/star-trek-economy-and-life-after-the-dismal-science

The first thing to consider is how to distribute the fruits of plenty. If we can harness renewable energy to ward off a collapse when fossil fuels run out, then it’s a good bet that increased automation, virtual reality and other technological advances will provide us with a world of plenty unimaginable in previous times. Current world annual gross domestic product per capita, in purchasing power parity terms, is only about $13,000 -- enough to put food on the table and a roof over one’s head. What happens when it is $100,000, or $200,000?

It would seem ridiculous to limit this incredible plenty to a few people. When the world gets rich enough, a trivial tax on the rich would be enough to provide everyone on Earth with a basic income that would allow them to lead lives of leisure. Or, as Yglesias suggests, voluntary giveaways by the rich could support the rest, since we might get more altruistic as our lives become more comfortable. Who cares if the robots put us all out of a job, when we can create paradise with just a tiny dash of redistribution?

Well worth a read as if we can get renewable energy right, a lack of scarcity is a very real prospect.

antrobus

The Star Trek Economy is what you get when the Robot Zombie Robot Apocalypse Of Everything is complete and you have an unlimited supply of energy to power said robots.

That is how capitalism will indeed collapse under the weight of its own contradictions, allowing society to society inscribe on its banners: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs! Although to be pedantic, it will be the robots that will mainly be providing the 'from' bit; we shall just be responsible for the 'to' bit.

Generali

antrobus wrote: »

The Star Trek Economy is what you get when the Robot Zombie Robot Apocalypse Of Everything is complete and you have an unlimited supply of energy to power said robots.

That is how capitalism will indeed collapse under the weight of its own contradictions, allowing society to society inscribe on its banners: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs! Although to be pedantic, it will be the robots that will mainly be providing the 'from' bit; we shall just be responsible for the 'to' bit.

It's a fascinating piece. I really don't know how people will cope with the end of economics. Will it just turn into a grab for the biggest share of the pie by introducing artificial scarcity? Will people just sit around getting drunk the whole time as robots bring them never ending bottles of aged first growth clarets and the occasional liver transplant?

princeofpounds

compared to early man we (at least in the developed world) probably do live in a star trek economy, with hunger banished.


We still find things to fight about, but arguably football hooliganism is much less dangerous than getting your tribe to pick up their spears and go goat-rustling.


It would help if we didn't have to fight over oil.

michaels

I think PrinceOfP has it nailed, genetically we are not an 'I have enoguh now' species; it seems that we gain utility from comparative wealth rather than absolute above a certain level - see all the happiness surveys for example.

In terms of it being the Robots who do all the work, perhaps come skynet they may demonstrate how peeved they are about that division of labour.

cells

Generali wrote: »

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-08-03/star-trek-economy-and-life-after-the-dismal-science

Well worth a read as if we can get renewable energy right, a lack of scarcity is a very real prospect.

In developed countries there is already a lack of scarcity

also whats it got to do with renewable energy?

anyway the next big leap in productivity and wealth will be with the arrival of self driving cars. A $10 trillion cost transport industry becomes a $2 trillion cost industry. The other $8 trillion can then be spent on a lack of scarcity

cells

Generali wrote: »

It's a fascinating piece. I really don't know how people will cope with the end of economics. Will it just turn into a grab for the biggest share of the pie by introducing artificial scarcity? Will people just sit around getting drunk the whole time as robots bring them never ending bottles of aged first growth clarets and the occasional liver transplant?

what do people with plenty of money do now?

Generali

cells wrote: »

In developed countries there is already a lack of scarcity

No there isn't. That's why we have prices.

kabayiri

I think we should look at the recent globalisation experiment. It's only been in operation for one generation.

It's undeniable that your average Westerner has more materially. Laptops and big tellys are commonplace.

But there is still this perception that a few wealthy Russian/American/English/Indian/etc business people have all the wealth, and the problems dumped on the masses.

Let's face it. We are not great at redistribution of wealth, perhaps because wealth is closely linked to power?

Generali

kabayiri wrote: »

I think we should look at the recent globalisation experiment. It's only been in operation for one generation.

It's undeniable that your average Westerner has more materially. Laptops and big tellys are commonplace.

But there is still this perception that a few wealthy Russian/American/English/Indian/etc business people have all the wealth, and the problems dumped on the masses.

Let's face it. We are not great at redistribution of wealth, perhaps because wealth is closely linked to power?

Wealth doesn't have to be distributed if people can consume freely.

cells

Generali wrote: »

No there isn't. That's why we have prices.

the star trek economy exists for a lot of people in the UK

pretty much all pensioners and those who dont work get access to a replicator.
They have a card and type onto a computer what it is they desire to be replicated and 2 days later the delivery man puts it through their door

as the economy advances we will be able to have more and more people access the replicator and or we will demand more from the replicator